Ongoing discussions of sea level rise and how a community can tackle the issue has become somewhat of a call-to-arms for Miami Beach city leaders in preparedness and keeping residents and visitors safe and dry.

The latest step in staying on the cutting edge of science and economics in responding to sea level rise is the expansion of a partnership with Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design GSD.

In May, 2015, Miami Beach entered into a partnership with Harvard for a two-year series of sponsored design studios to study the impacts of and potential responses to sea level rise for Miami Beach. The partnership includes leading academics and professionals from a host of fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and planning.

Harvard University has now announced that Miami Beach has been selected as an inaugural project of how a municipality responds to sea level rise. The Office for Urbanization will explore a wide range of implications, including not only sea level rise but also increased storm events and how the local economy, ecology and infrastructure are affected by such events.

Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales says sea level rise is a serious issue that requires serious solutions. He said, “I am encouraged that this newly created Office for Urbanization will further inform our decision-making processes and provide innovative solutions for the future growth of our community in light of climate change and sea level rise.”

During the project, Harvard University Graduate School of Design’s Office for Urbanization will develop design strategies and scenarios based on present climate change and sea level rise threats and anticipate future threats facing Miami Beach.